RECEPTORS

Lesson 7 –
The Eye -
Term 2 - G12
- Dr Ross

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 1

Sense Organs and
Receptors

There are FIVE sense

organs:

• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
• Tongue
• Skin

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 2

All sense organs contain
a different Receptor.

➢ Receptors are groups of

cells which are sensitive
to a stimulus, such as
light

➢ Receptors are cells

that turn energy (light
energy) into electrical
impulses

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 3

Example:

➢ The eye is a sense organ

➢ The eye contains light
receptors (rods and cones).
When stimulated, the light
receptors will convert the
stimuli into impulses and
transit them to the brain
where the impulse is s
interpreted. This then allows
the body to react to the
stimuli in appropriate ways

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7

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross

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Label
parts of
the eye

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Accommodation – The Lens
(two ‘c’s and two ‘m’s)

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 14

 Accommodation
is the ability of
the eye to
change the
shape (the
convexity) of the
lens

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 15

 Light is focused onto the retina by
refraction at the cornea, and by the
lens.

The lens changes shape to make

the fine adjustments needed to
produce a sharp image.

The eye has to adapt to be able to

focus a clear image of an object no
matter how far away it is from the
eye.

This is under the control of the

nervous system.

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 16

 Accommodation
When the eye looks at an object for far vision
that is far away the CILIARY
MUSCLE PULLS on the
suspensory ligaments.

These pull on the lens and make it

flatter (less convex).

This brings the rays of light from

the object into crisp focus on the
retina.

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 17

 Accommodation
But with an object closer
for near vision
to the eye, the lens needs
to be more convex (fatter).

To do this, the CILIARY

MUSCLES RELAX to
allow the rubbery lens to
return to its naturally
rounder shape.

The brain's careful control of the ciliary muscles allow it to

adjust the convexity of the lens to give a perfectly focused
image on the retina.
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 18
 CRICKET IN JAMAICA

Two boys are playing cricket in Jamaica. How does the batsman manage to keep his eyes
focused from the time the ball leaves the bowlers hand until he hits the ball?

This question is about Accommodation

When the ball leaves the bowler’s hand, the eye is accommodated ✓for distant vision✓

▪ The batsman keeps his eyes focused through accommodation✓

▪ To get a sharp image of the ball the light rays must be focused onto the retina✓

▪ Light rays reflected from the ball can be focused onto the retina for a clear image✓

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 19

This is brought about as follows:

➢ The ciliary muscles contract✓

➢ causing the ciliary body move closer to the lens✓

➢ the suspensory ligaments become slack✓

➢ causing the lens to become more convex✓

➢ this results in the refractive power of the lens to increase✓

➢ so that the batsman sees the ball clearly✓

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 20

Learn
this:

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 21

PUPILLARY
MECHANISM

LIGHT
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 22
PUPILLARY
MECHANISM –
LIGHT
THE PUPIL IS THE OPENING IN THE IRIS
WHICH LETS LIGHT IN THE EYE
THE SIZE OF THE PUPIL CHANGES FOR DIM
AND FOR BRIGHT LIGHT.
THE IRIS CONTROLS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT
ENTERING THE EYE
THE IRIS HAS TWO SETS OF MUSCLES
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BRIGHT LIGHT:
When there is too much light, the pupil is closed down by contracting the circular muscle. Too much light would
damage the receptor cells in the retina.

DIM LIGHT
When there isn't enough light, the radial muscles in the iris contract, pulling the pupil wider. This lets more light
through to the retina. Too little light wouldn't allow them to work properly.

Each iris has both circular and radial muscles in it at the same time.

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 25

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How is movement of
the iris controlled?
There are photoreceptors which are
light receptor cells, called rods and the
cones.

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 27

How is movement of the iris controlled?
The rods respond to shades of light - really they 'see' in black and white.

The cones respond to colours of light. There are 3 varieties - blue, green and red.
(eg, the red cones respond to red light)

The rods and cones in the retina send impulses to the brain about the light they receive.

The brain then sends back impulses by motor neurons to tell muscles in the iris to contract
and change the shape of the pupil.
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 28
 Learn this

Pupillary Mechanism

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 29

 CRICKET IN JAMAICA AT SUNSET

Two girls are playing cricket in Jamaica at sunset. Explain how the changes
in the pupils of the batswoman’s are brought about?

This question is about Pupillary Mechanism

Firstly, the pupil will be larger as a result of the dim light after sunset✓

In dim light ✓
▪ the radial muscles of the iris contract✓
▪ the circular muscles relax✓
▪ the pupil becomes larger✓
▪ and the amount of light entering the eye is increased✓

Why are these changes regarded as a REFLEX ACTION?

Because it is an automatic response✓ to a stimulus✓

The person is not aware of the changes that took place✓

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Structure
and
Function of
the Eye

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 33

Model
Answers

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Disorders of the Eye

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 ‘Visual Defects of the Human Eye’
• Short-sightedness
• Long-sightedness
• Astigmatism
• Cataracts

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Common Defects of the Eye and How They Can Be Overcome

• Common defects or disorders of the eyes are myopia (short-

sightedness) and hyperopia (long-sightedness), astigmatism and
cataracts.

• Short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism can be

corrected with glasses that have special lenses. Cataracts can be
corrected by surgery where the lens is replaced.

• In the case of short and long sightedness, rays of light do not

focus on the retina, so a clear image is not formed. These two
defects are treated with spectacle lenses, which refract (bend) the
light rays so that they do focus on the retina.
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 37
Short-sightedness (Myopia)

Someone with short-sight can see near objects clearly but

cannot focus properly on distant objects. Short sight is caused
by one of the following:

➢The eyeball being elongated - so that the distance between

the lens and the retina is too great.

➢The lens being too thick and curved - so that light is focused
in front of the retina.

Short-sightedness can be corrected by placing a concave lens

in front of the eye. Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 38
Long-sightedness (Hypermetropia)

Someone who is long-sighted can see distant objects clearly, but

they cannot focus properly on near objects. Long-sightedness is
caused by one of the following:

➢the eyeball being too short - so the distance between the lens
and retina is too small

➢a loss of elasticity in the lens - meaning it cannot become thick

enough to focus (which is often age-related)

As a result, the lens focuses light behind the retina instead of onto
it. Long-sightedness is corrected by putting a convex lens in front
of the eye. Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 39
ASTIGMATISM

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 40

RUGBY BALL

ASTIGMATISM
• Astigmatism is caused by an error in
the shape of the cornea.
• With astigmatism, the lens of the
eye or the cornea, which is the front
surface of the eye, has an irregular
curve.
• This can change the way light
passes, or refracts, to your retina. This
causes blurry, fuzzy, or distorted
vision.
• Look carefully. One cornea looks like
a football and the other a rugby ball.
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 41
CATARACTS
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 42
CATARACTS
A cataract is a clouding of the normally
clear lens of your eye. A cataract is a
cloudiness in the lens, caused by a
build-up of protein inside the lens. For
people who have cataracts, seeing
through cloudy lenses is a bit like
looking through a frosty or fogged-up
window. Clouded vision caused by
cataracts can make it more difficult to
read, drive a car (especially at night) or
see the expression on a friend's face.
Cataracts can be treated with surgery by
removing the lens and replacing with a
plastic
Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Termlens – or by laser
2 - Dr Ross 43
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 1. Provide labels for parts A, B
and D
2. The lens bends light. Name
ONE other part of the eye that
bends light.
3. Cataract is an eye problem in
which the lens becomes
cloudy. Suggest how a
cataract would affect the
ability to see an object
C

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 Watch these videos

• The Eye – Aslam Khan

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK8tuu8SVBg

• Exam Questions – Miss Angler

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9OflKc54zs

BBC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvaHqZ7yIhA

Lesson 7 - The Human Eye - G12 - Term 2 - Dr Ross 50